Diamictite

Argillite

Diamictite and Argillite

Diamictite

Argillite

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Definition

Diamictite is a sedimentary rock that consists of non-sorted to poorly sorted terrigenous sediment containing particles that range in size from clay to boulders, suspended in a matrix of mudstone or sandstone

Argillites are highly compact sedimentary or slightly metamorphosed rocks that consist largely or wholly of particles of clay or silt but lack the fissility of shale or the cleavage characteristic of slate

History

Origin

Southern Mongolia

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Greek dia through and meiktós or mixed

From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Clastic

Clastic, Polished

Color

Brown, Buff

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Banded

Rough and Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, Paving Stone

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone

Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Production of Lime

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

Types

Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite

Metamorphic rock

Features

Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Present

Formation

Diamictite is unevenly sorted terrigenous, non-calcareous sedimentary rock which forms due to weathering of mudstone and sandstone.

An argillite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock mainly composed of clay particles which forms from lithified muds which contain variable amounts of silt-sized particles.

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz

Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz

Compound Content

Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

2-32-3

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

Light to dark brown

White to Grey

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous

Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Slaty

Toughness

2.6

Specific Gravity

4.3-5.02.56-2.68

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.2-2.35 g/cm³2.54-2.66 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.75 kJ/Kg K0.87 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

Africa

Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Brazil, Venezuela

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia

All about Diamictite and Argillite Properties

Know all about Diamictite and Argillite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diamictite and Argillite belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Diamictite is Clastic whereas that of Argillite is Clastic, Polished. Diamictite appears Banded and Argillite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Diamictite is grainy, pearly and vitreous while that of Argillite is waxy and dull. Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors whereas Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Diamictite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork, production of lime and that of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.